There are many jobs which present different types of biohazards. The PPE principally used to protect the respiratory tract are filtering masks manufactured according to UNI EN 149: 2001 standard.
There are also many different types of Respiratory Protective Devices (RPD) for the protection of the respiratory system. Their main purpose is to prevent harmful substances, such as particles or microorganisms, from entering the breathing tract where the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth are a perfect place to proliferate. Respiratory Protective Devices are equipped with mechanisms to filter out hazardous particles and prevent their inhalation.
Health care, veterinary and laboratory jobs have a very high biological risk. Companies which specialize in the treatment of liquid wastes or in the remediation of polluted areas have similar risks. The RPD used to protect the respiratory system in these circumstances are filtering masks manufactured to UNI EN 149:2001 standard . These masks prevent the mouth, nose and chin coming into contact with harmful airborne particles.
RPD which protect against biological hazards
The filters used are classified into 3 classes based on their filtering capacity. RPD need to be accompanied by User Instructions and Technical sheets indicating the following codes:
- P (protection against particles).
as well as, the numbers from 1 to 3 which identify the level of protection.
PPE which protect against high biological hazards fall into Category III.
When working in health care or veterinary activities with infected patients or animals, P2 type RPD are indicated. These are full face masks which, when equipped with a Class P2 filter provide a filtering capacity of 95%. Care needs to be taken when choosing RPD as a device which does not offer the proper protection level could lead to contagion.
In addition, there are RPD to be used for more specific jobs such as the handling of dangerous substances (including asbestos) which require P3 type of protection.
The majority of RPD for protection against biological hazards are reusable.
Kasco srl produces full facemasks for use in highly bio-hazardous situations.
Nov 14 2016
Which are the biological risks to which one could be occupationally exposed?
There are also many different types of Respiratory Protective Devices (RPD) for the protection of the respiratory system. Their main purpose is to prevent harmful substances, such as particles or microorganisms, from entering the breathing tract where the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth are a perfect place to proliferate. Respiratory Protective Devices are equipped with mechanisms to filter out hazardous particles and prevent their inhalation.
Health care, veterinary and laboratory jobs have a very high biological risk. Companies which specialize in the treatment of liquid wastes or in the remediation of polluted areas have similar risks. The RPD used to protect the respiratory system in these circumstances are filtering masks manufactured to UNI EN 149:2001 standard . These masks prevent the mouth, nose and chin coming into contact with harmful airborne particles.
RPD which protect against biological hazards
The filters used are classified into 3 classes based on their filtering capacity. RPD need to be accompanied by User Instructions and Technical sheets indicating the following codes:
as well as, the numbers from 1 to 3 which identify the level of protection.
PPE which protect against high biological hazards fall into Category III.
When working in health care or veterinary activities with infected patients or animals, P2 type RPD are indicated. These are full face masks which, when equipped with a Class P2 filter provide a filtering capacity of 95%. Care needs to be taken when choosing RPD as a device which does not offer the proper protection level could lead to contagion.
In addition, there are RPD to be used for more specific jobs such as the handling of dangerous substances (including asbestos) which require P3 type of protection.
The majority of RPD for protection against biological hazards are reusable.
Kasco srl produces full facemasks for use in highly bio-hazardous situations.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •